MONROE - Green County Emergency Management is encouraging residents to follow Wisconsin Emergency Management's guidelines on how to help Illinois tornado victims.
• Do not go to the scene of a disaster. Illinois Emergency Management Agency is reporting there are far more volunteer offers than there are volunteer needs. In addition, the arrival of unexpected volunteers will interfere with the response efforts. Despite best intentions, you may end up being one more person for relief organizations to take care of, diverting money that could be spent rebuilding.
• Cash donations only. IEMA says financial gifts are the best way to help the victims of the storms. Cash donations to disaster agencies, such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army, will allow those organizations to purchase exactly what is needed to meet immediate essential needs. Local businesses may be able to supply these items.
• Do not send donations of food, clothing and other items. Donating boxes or truck loads of items often contributes to what relief workers call the disaster after the disaster. Unsolicited donated goods, such as used clothing, household items and mixed or perishable food, requires disaster relief agencies to redirect valuable resources away from helping tornado victims to sort, package, transport, warehouse and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors.
For more information, visit www.illinois.gov/ready.
• Do not go to the scene of a disaster. Illinois Emergency Management Agency is reporting there are far more volunteer offers than there are volunteer needs. In addition, the arrival of unexpected volunteers will interfere with the response efforts. Despite best intentions, you may end up being one more person for relief organizations to take care of, diverting money that could be spent rebuilding.
• Cash donations only. IEMA says financial gifts are the best way to help the victims of the storms. Cash donations to disaster agencies, such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army, will allow those organizations to purchase exactly what is needed to meet immediate essential needs. Local businesses may be able to supply these items.
• Do not send donations of food, clothing and other items. Donating boxes or truck loads of items often contributes to what relief workers call the disaster after the disaster. Unsolicited donated goods, such as used clothing, household items and mixed or perishable food, requires disaster relief agencies to redirect valuable resources away from helping tornado victims to sort, package, transport, warehouse and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors.
For more information, visit www.illinois.gov/ready.